Gas neutralizing device



May 22, 1945. v. N. TESTIN GAS NEUTRALIZING DEVICE Filed Ju1y"8, 194s FIG/.

PI c; 6

MAD/Mm Mfr 557M! INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 22, 1945 OFFICE oAs NEUTRALIZING DEVICE vladimir'ri. Testin, Plaihiild, N. J. Application July 8, 1943, Serial No. 493,889

J (01. zen-25s) t 3 Claims.

My invention relates to gas neutralizing devices and has particular reference to devices employing mechanically operated fans.

My invention has for its object to provide portable means for neutralizing poisonous gases, smoke, black damp in mines, etc., whereby operators are supplied with purifiedair while moving around or working in an atmosphere, charged.

with poisonous or injurious gases or "vapors. I provide for this purpose a portable device in the form of a container or box with a fan operated by mechanical power, preferably by a spring, the box having a supply of filtering or chemical material for purifying air.

Another object of my invention is to provide means conveniently to replace the sprin when the latter is fully unwound, with a new spring, fully wound and ready for operation.

In a modified form of my invention the fan may be replaced by a suitable tool for performing mechanical work such as a disc saw, drill, emery wheel, etc.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of my device;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the removable spring;

Fig, 4 is a plan view of the spring partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view of a large portable device;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a. modified device adapted for use with mechanical tools and similar devices.

My device for neutralizing and purifying of gases, smoke, etc. consists of a box or housing I of a cylindrical shape, provided with a handle 2. A fan 3 is mounted on a shaft 4, journaled in bearings 5 and 6 in the walls I and 8 of the housing. A spring motor is provided for rotating the shaft with the fan, the motor consisting of a clock spring 9 mounted in a cylindrical casing I9, removably fitted in a recess II in the rear Wall 8 of the housing. The spring is fastened at the inner end to a shaft I2, detachably engaging, .as by a tongue and groove coupling I3, a jack shaft I4, journaled in a bearing in the housing. The

centrifugal governor, the other ends of the governor arms being connected to a bushing 2|, fastened to the shaft 4. The governor is so adjusted that the arms tend to remain at the shaft, pressing the bushing I9 againstthe pulley It. The shaft 4 is then rotated by the spring 9 through the pulley l6 and belt At a certain speed, however, the arms '20 fly apart by centrifugal forc'e, releasing the bushing I9 from the pulley I6, thereby allowing the shaft '4' to slow down. Speed of the fan is therebymaintained constant while the spring unwinds itself.

The shaft l2 extends outward from the casing I9 and has a square end 22 for winding the spring by a suitable Wrench. A ratchet wheel 23 is mounted on the shaft I2 and is engaged by a pawl 24, with a spring 24 preventing the spring from rotation until the pawl is released, for which purpose it is provided with a handle 25.

A partition 26 is providedin the upper portion of the housing for a filtering material '21 such as activated carbon cotton, saturated with suitable chemicals, etc. Outside air is admitted into the compartment 23, formed by the partition 26, through an opening 29 in the rear wall 8, and is admitted to the fan 3 through an opening 30 in the wall I. The opening 29 can be closed by a cover 3|, hinged at 32 to the wall 8 and having a spring latch 33, engaging the edge of the wall 8 when the cover is closing the opening 29. The opening 30 can be closed by a disc-shaped shutter 34, rotatively mounted on the shaft 4 and having an opening 35, registering with the opening 30. The disc can be turned into a position in which the opening 35 is moved away from the opening 29 in which case an opening 36 in the disc will register with an opening 31 in the wall 6, thereby admitting outside air directly to the fan, the housing having an opening 38 for the air. In this position of the openings, the fan may be used to repel the gas or smoke by holding the device in front of the operator.

A modified device is shown in Fig. 5, the device being of a much larger size and adapted to purify air in trenches, in factories, in mines, etc. Springs for such a device can .be wound by a power supplied by automotive or other engines. Thus for military purposes the springs can be wound by suitable power take-up on trucks, automobiles, etc. The housing 39 is mounted on wheels 49 and can be moved to any desired place.

My device can be also used as a portable tool, by providing the shaft 4 with a chuck 4| (Fig, 6) for holding a grinding wheel 42 or other suitable tool or device such as a circular saw, drill, reamer, etc.

For entering burning houses, when my device is used by firemen, the compartment 28 may be filled with cotton, saturated with water. Various purifying chemicals may be used, depending on the nature of the gas or smoke. For a majority of cases, however, activated carbon produces the best results.

It is understood that my gas neutralizing device may be further modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A ventilating device comprising a housing; a shaft rotatively supported in the housing; a fan at the outer end of the shaft; a spring removably fitted in a recess in the wall of the housing; means to rotate the shaft by the spring; a partition in the housing forming a compartment for a gas purifying material; and means to selectively direct outside air to the fan through the compartment; or directly to the fan.

2. A ventilating device comprising a cylindrical housing having rear and front walls; a shaft rotatively supported in the walls; a fan on the shaft in front of the front wall; a partition extending between the walls forming a compartment for a gas neutralizing material, the front and rear walls having openings for permitting passage of air through the compartment to the fan; a cover removably fitted over the opening in the rear wall; the front wall having a second opening for admitting air directly to the fan, bypassing the compartment; a shutter rotatively supported at the side of the front wall and having openings, the angular spacing of the shutter opening being different from the angular spacing of the front wall openings, the shutter being thereby adapted to close the bypassin opening when the compartment opening is opened and to close the compartment opening when the bypassing opening is opened; and means to manually rotate the shutter.

3. A ventilating device comprising a housing; a shaft rotatively supported in' the housing; a fan on said shaft; a casing removably fitted in the wall of the housing; a. shaft rotatively supported in the casing; a spiral spring attached at the inner end to the shaft and attached at the outer end to the casing; the shaft being adapted to be rotated for winding the spring; a ratchet device on the casing for holding the spring in wound condition; manually operable means to release the spring by releasing the ratchet device; a jack shaft rotatively supported in the housing; means at the inner end of the spring shaft to detachably engage the jack shaft by the casing being placed in the housing; and means to transmit rotation from the jack shaft to the housing shaft.

VLADIMIR N. TESTIN. 

